September 28, 2026
Cleaning Farm Equipment and the Barn
Here at my farm, I work hard to keep everything clean, organized, and in excellent working condition — especially the large and essential pieces of agricultural equipment.
Earlier this month, we baled our second cut of hay for the season, producing more than 500 bales to feed my horses. Once the work is finished, it’s important to thoroughly inspect and clean all the equipment before putting it into my “trailer barn” for storage. Every year, the barn is also completely emptied and thoroughly washed. Keeping everything clean and properly maintained minimizes damage and extends the life of the structure and each piece of machinery.
Enjoy these photos.
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- I am very fortunate to have all the proper equipment to make nutritious and delicious hay for my horses. I try to impress upon my team how important it is to take good care of everything we have. Once the hay is cut for the season, Chhiring services and washes all the equipment.
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- My outdoor grounds crew foreman, Chhiring Sherpa, overseas the hay production and the baling machinery. Here, he thoroughly power washes the hood and top of the mower-conditioner, which cuts, crimps and crushes the hay to promote faster and more even drying.
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- Chhiring cleans every crevice of the baler to remove any debris caught in the machine. This is also a good time for Chhiring to check any parts that may need more maintenance attention. A baler is a piece of farm machinery used to compress a cut and raked crop into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport, and store.
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- This is the pick up cylinder of the baler, which rolls over the cut hay and gathers it into the chamber.
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- Most of the equipment is pulled by our trusted Kubota tractor, one of the most important pieces of equipment here at the farm. It is used every single day of the year.
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- And look at the wheels – each one is five feet in diameter. Chhiring makes sure the tractor and all its tires are also well cleaned.
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- Chhiring cleans and checks all the lights and other safety features.
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- And then finally, he cleans around the mechanicals, but is careful to avoid any direct contact with bearings and seals.
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- Once the equipment is cleaned and adequately sun dried, it is all pulled one by one behind the tractor to the barn specifically designated for these pieces.
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- Meanwhile, before anything is returned inside, the entire barn is emptied, so it, too, can be well-cleaned.
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- The dirt floor is raked level and cleaned of any small debris.
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- And then using a STIHL SGA 85 Cordless Backpack Sprayer, Fernando treats the walls with a dirt and mildew remover and then rinses it off thoroughly.
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- Any hand tool hooks are also checked and cleaned.
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- And then tools are placed back in their designated places.
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- Fernando repaints the bird feed storage station. It’s “Bedford Gray,” of course.
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- Chhiring oils the hay equipment to repel water, slow oxidation, and prevent corrosion during the off season.
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- And then one by one, Chhiring backs in each piece.
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- Some pieces fold up conveniently for storage and transport purposes.
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- Any flat trailer pieces are put up against the wall and properly secured to save space.
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- This barn provides adequate air circulation and proper drainage to keep them all dry and safe from the elements.
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- Every piece has its designated space. Chhiring checks the equipment periodically through the year to ensure it is all safe from moisture, mold, and pests. Good, clean, well-maintained equipment of any kind is sure to last many years.
This story originally appeared on Martha Stewart Blog
